Ghana’s national women’s football team, the Black Queens, are awaiting travel clearance to leave the United Arab Emirates following a major reshuffle of the African football calendar and rising regional tensions.
The squad is scheduled to conclude its training camp in Sharjah on Friday, 6 March, after their final Pink Ladies Cup fixture against Tanzania.
However, their journey home has been complicated by the suspension of air transport in parts of the region due to escalating geopolitical instability.
The logistical headache coincides with a significant announcement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). On Thursday, 5 March, officials confirmed that the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco will no longer take place in March as originally scheduled.
Following consultations with FIFA, the tournament has been moved to a new window: 25 July to 16 August 2026.
The shift aims to better align the continental showpiece with the global footballing calendar, though it forces participating nations to recalibrate their long-term preparations.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding their departure, Kim Lars Björkegren’s side has been in scintillating form during their UAE tour.
The Black Queens dismantled Hong Kong with a dominant 4-0 opening display before repeating the same scoreline against high-calibre Russian opposition.
These results have bolstered spirits within the camp as Ghana looks to build on their impressive third-place finish at the 2024 edition of the tournament in Morocco.
The immediate priority for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) remains the safe repatriation of the players and coaching staff.
With Sharjah’s authorities monitoring the airspace closely, the team are currently holding steady at their base.
The Black Queens are expected to remain focused on the pitch for Friday’s clash with Tanzania before shifts in focus turn entirely to the logistics of returning to Accra.
